Topic: Nature
Join Great Islands Cleanup April 24 On San Juan, Orcas, Lopez And Shaw
Written on April 12, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
By Mark Ingman, San Juan County Solid Waste Program Coordinator Have you ever noticed a mossy, weedy tire while walking along roads or beaches? There is a chemical compound in tires that washes off in the rain and is linked to killing salmon — bringing in a cast-off tire along with your litter to the Continue Reading
Join Spring Street International School Lecture On Herbalism
Written on April 5, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
From Spring Street International School Don’t miss out on Spring Street International School’s final event in our 2021 virtual nature speaker series, featuring herbalist Callie North at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 14. Register for the event here. North co-owns and runs two businesses on Lopez Island: a brick-and-mortar shop Northsea Apothecary and Continue Reading
First Annual Daffodil Frolic At San Juan Islands Sculpture Park
Written on March 23, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Tim Dustrude
From San Juan Islands Sculpture Park Join the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park’s first-ever Daffodil Frolic, a spring celebration of thousands of Daffodils and Irises. (Sorry, the deer ate the tulips.)While you are at the park, enjoy our 150 sculptures, nine new sheep, “Soundhenge,” new Westcott Bay trails, “Whimsy Woods,” three orca fins, “Starfish” for Continue Reading
Celebrate Earth Day Throughout April In San Juans
Written on March 21, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
From the Stewardship Network of the San Juans “Here we all are, with nothing but our wit and our will to save the world.” – Samuel L. Jackson. We might not have a vibranium shield, a fancy metal suit designed by Tony Stark, or a hammer only we can lift, but we can still be Continue Reading
Zylstra Lank Preserve Offers 70-acre Agricultural Hay Lease
Written on March 14, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
From San Juan County Land Bank The San Juan County Land Bank is requesting proposals from anyone interested in a short-term agricultural hay rental agreement of the Zylstra Lake Preserve Property on San Juan Island. The property has approximately 70 acres of hay pasture. Individuals or organizations interested in this lease should go to the Continue Reading
Daphne Laureola Cannot Be Sold Or Traded In State
Written on March 4, 2021 at 4:30 am, by Hayley Day
By Jason A. Ontjes, program coordinator, San Juan County Noxious Weed Control Daphne laureola, or spurge laurel, has been on the state’s noxious weed list since 2007. This evergreen ornamental shrub, which is native to Europe and northern Africa, was once sold by plant nurseries in the Pacific Northwest, but it is now on the Continue Reading
Spring Street International School Presents Forager Discussion Online
Written on February 24, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
From Spring Street International School Join Joshua Hoyt for a discussion on foraging, a word emphasizing the act of searching for wild edibles, at 6 p.m., March 16. While modern foraging is often about the search, indigenous people thought very differently about what it meant to get food from their environment. Far from a passive, Continue Reading
Register for Virtual San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit
Written on February 23, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
From event organizers The 2021 San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit will be held virtually from March 20-April 16. Registration closes March 14. Designed as a space for inspiration, education, and community building, the 2021 Summit is bringing together farmers, producers, and food system advocates to learn and discuss ways to build an equitable future for Continue Reading
Mysterious Pond Designs In Friday Harbor
Written on February 20, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
By Krista Mattox, Friday Harbor I live in the North 40 neighborhood of Friday Harbor. Over the past couple of days, there have been mysterious designs in the frost covering my pond. I’m curious if anyone else has experienced this in their pond. The designs have been there since Monday morning and haven’t changed at Continue Reading
San Juan Land Bank’s Tale Of Two Eagles
Written on February 5, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
From San Juan County Lank Bank On Jan. 22, Tom Marschner and his faithful walking companion, Ellie the Golden Retriever, encountered a rare and sad occurrence near the summit of Mount Grant. Splayed out on a mossy outcrop, with broken-tipped beaks, were two dead Bald Eagles. Tom and Ellie promptly reported the incident to Land Continue Reading
Friday Harbor Labs Tide Bites
Written on January 19, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
Sea Otter Disturbance By Dr. Tiff Stephens In the summer of 2017, I traveled to Friday Harbor Labs for one of my usual short visits of reconnecting with resident scientists and diving into the waters to see how the seaweed communities have changed at favored sites (Reuben Tarte, Cattle Point, Deadman Bay). I also traveled Continue Reading
Join Virtual Land Bank Meeting
Written on January 14, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
From San Juan County Land Bank The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting on Friday, Jan. 15, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., via Zoom. The public is invited to attend. Click here to download the agenda, Zoom link and meeting materials. The San Juan County Land Bank is a local land conservation Continue Reading
Donate to Friends of the San Juans During $100K Match
Written on December 15, 2020 at 4:30 am, by Hayley Day
By Friends of the San Juans This year has been life-changing for all of us to varying degrees. In early March, the message from Friends of the San Juans was one of changing times, as directives unfolded with caution and deliberation. Those same feelings continue to unfold in a variety of ways. Yet today, we Continue Reading
Seasonal Closure of 4th of July Beach Parking
Written on November 1, 2020 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
By San Juan Island National Historical Park San Juan Island National Historical Park announces its seasonal closure of the 4th of July Beach parking area effective, Sunday, Nov. 1. The closing of the parking area is an annual event to prevent damage to the area due to high rainfall, poor drainage, and heavy vehicle use. Continue Reading
Zylstra Lake: Fall Trail Times 2020
Written on October 29, 2020 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
Thanks to the cooperation of the Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust we now have a beautiful new and historic public land to explore. On September 26th, National Public Lands Day, 5 years of negotiations and planning came to fruition when the 285-acre Zylstra Lake Preserve on San Juan Island officially opened part Continue Reading
WSU Extension Offers Online Horticulture Training
Written on October 26, 2020 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
By WSU Extension Learn to be a better home gardener and steward of the environment this winter with Washington State University San Juan County Extension’s new online Home Horticulture Training program. Training focuses on a wide range of horticulture topics taught online by WSU faculty, staff, Master Gardeners and other regional experts on Saturday mornings Continue Reading
Salmon Habitat Restored on Sucia Island
Written on October 2, 2020 at 5:50 am, by Hayley Day
Almost seven years ago, Friends of the San Juans began working with Washington State Parks on a salmon recovery project on Sucia Island. After a lot of research, surveys, designs, engineering, and permitting, the on-the-ground work to restore habitat has come to fruition. Located along a major migratory pathway for juvenile Chinook salmon, Sucia’s marine Continue Reading
Sunrise at Boundary Pass
Written on September 5, 2020 at 4:50 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
Thanks to John Miller for capturing this sunrise image… click to enlarge photo…
Trail Times: Old Military Road Trail – An Illustrated Guide
Written on September 4, 2020 at 12:21 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
Robin Donnelly for the Old Military Road Trail Committee… What a great time to be exploring our trails. Covid seems to have made us all more aware of the healing power of nature and our fortunate ability to be part of it. As summer is waning, fall colors are taking over for the vibrancy of Continue Reading
Applications Being Accepted for Grants to Conserve Forests
Written on August 31, 2020 at 1:11 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
OLYMPIA–On Sept.1, eligible organizations may begin applying for grants to conserve community forests, the Recreation and Conservation Office announced today. The new state Community Forests Program will offer grants of up to $3 million. But organizations need to hurry. Applications are due Oct. 1. The grants must be used to buy at least 5 acres Continue Reading
Islanders For The San Juan Islands National Monument Meet Via Zoom August 27
Written on August 25, 2020 at 7:00 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
Join the MAC Meeting on August 27, 9:00am -5:00pm, Pacific Time (see Zoom link below)… Click on photo to enlarge… The MAC (Monument Advisory Committee) will be hearing from subject matter experts and the public to inform their deliberations as they discuss and present their input to the BLM. The full meeting agenda (PDF) can Continue Reading
Rainbow Reflection in Friday Harbor
Written on August 22, 2020 at 2:35 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
Many thanks to Liz Smith for this magical photo of Friday Harbor…

Join Great Islands Cleanup April 24 On San Juan, Orcas, Lopez And Shaw
Written on April 12, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
By Mark Ingman, San Juan County Solid Waste Program Coordinator Have you ever noticed a mossy, weedy tire while walking along roads or beaches? There is a chemical compound in tires that washes off in the rain and is linked to killing salmon — bringing in a cast-off tire along with your litter to the Continue Reading

Join Spring Street International School Lecture On Herbalism
Written on April 5, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
From Spring Street International School Don’t miss out on Spring Street International School’s final event in our 2021 virtual nature speaker series, featuring herbalist Callie North at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 14. Register for the event here. North co-owns and runs two businesses on Lopez Island: a brick-and-mortar shop Northsea Apothecary and Continue Reading

First Annual Daffodil Frolic At San Juan Islands Sculpture Park
Written on March 23, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Tim Dustrude
From San Juan Islands Sculpture Park Join the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park’s first-ever Daffodil Frolic, a spring celebration of thousands of Daffodils and Irises. (Sorry, the deer ate the tulips.)While you are at the park, enjoy our 150 sculptures, nine new sheep, “Soundhenge,” new Westcott Bay trails, “Whimsy Woods,” three orca fins, “Starfish” for Continue Reading

Celebrate Earth Day Throughout April In San Juans
Written on March 21, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
From the Stewardship Network of the San Juans “Here we all are, with nothing but our wit and our will to save the world.” – Samuel L. Jackson. We might not have a vibranium shield, a fancy metal suit designed by Tony Stark, or a hammer only we can lift, but we can still be Continue Reading

Zylstra Lank Preserve Offers 70-acre Agricultural Hay Lease
Written on March 14, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
From San Juan County Land Bank The San Juan County Land Bank is requesting proposals from anyone interested in a short-term agricultural hay rental agreement of the Zylstra Lake Preserve Property on San Juan Island. The property has approximately 70 acres of hay pasture. Individuals or organizations interested in this lease should go to the Continue Reading

Daphne Laureola Cannot Be Sold Or Traded In State
Written on March 4, 2021 at 4:30 am, by Hayley Day
By Jason A. Ontjes, program coordinator, San Juan County Noxious Weed Control Daphne laureola, or spurge laurel, has been on the state’s noxious weed list since 2007. This evergreen ornamental shrub, which is native to Europe and northern Africa, was once sold by plant nurseries in the Pacific Northwest, but it is now on the Continue Reading

Spring Street International School Presents Forager Discussion Online
Written on February 24, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
From Spring Street International School Join Joshua Hoyt for a discussion on foraging, a word emphasizing the act of searching for wild edibles, at 6 p.m., March 16. While modern foraging is often about the search, indigenous people thought very differently about what it meant to get food from their environment. Far from a passive, Continue Reading

Register for Virtual San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit
Written on February 23, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
From event organizers The 2021 San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit will be held virtually from March 20-April 16. Registration closes March 14. Designed as a space for inspiration, education, and community building, the 2021 Summit is bringing together farmers, producers, and food system advocates to learn and discuss ways to build an equitable future for Continue Reading

Mysterious Pond Designs In Friday Harbor
Written on February 20, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
By Krista Mattox, Friday Harbor I live in the North 40 neighborhood of Friday Harbor. Over the past couple of days, there have been mysterious designs in the frost covering my pond. I’m curious if anyone else has experienced this in their pond. The designs have been there since Monday morning and haven’t changed at Continue Reading

San Juan Land Bank’s Tale Of Two Eagles
Written on February 5, 2021 at 5:30 am, by Hayley Day
From San Juan County Lank Bank On Jan. 22, Tom Marschner and his faithful walking companion, Ellie the Golden Retriever, encountered a rare and sad occurrence near the summit of Mount Grant. Splayed out on a mossy outcrop, with broken-tipped beaks, were two dead Bald Eagles. Tom and Ellie promptly reported the incident to Land Continue Reading

Friday Harbor Labs Tide Bites
Written on January 19, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
Sea Otter Disturbance By Dr. Tiff Stephens In the summer of 2017, I traveled to Friday Harbor Labs for one of my usual short visits of reconnecting with resident scientists and diving into the waters to see how the seaweed communities have changed at favored sites (Reuben Tarte, Cattle Point, Deadman Bay). I also traveled Continue Reading

Join Virtual Land Bank Meeting
Written on January 14, 2021 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
From San Juan County Land Bank The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting on Friday, Jan. 15, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., via Zoom. The public is invited to attend. Click here to download the agenda, Zoom link and meeting materials. The San Juan County Land Bank is a local land conservation Continue Reading

Donate to Friends of the San Juans During $100K Match
Written on December 15, 2020 at 4:30 am, by Hayley Day
By Friends of the San Juans This year has been life-changing for all of us to varying degrees. In early March, the message from Friends of the San Juans was one of changing times, as directives unfolded with caution and deliberation. Those same feelings continue to unfold in a variety of ways. Yet today, we Continue Reading

Seasonal Closure of 4th of July Beach Parking
Written on November 1, 2020 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
By San Juan Island National Historical Park San Juan Island National Historical Park announces its seasonal closure of the 4th of July Beach parking area effective, Sunday, Nov. 1. The closing of the parking area is an annual event to prevent damage to the area due to high rainfall, poor drainage, and heavy vehicle use. Continue Reading

Zylstra Lake: Fall Trail Times 2020
Written on October 29, 2020 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
Thanks to the cooperation of the Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust we now have a beautiful new and historic public land to explore. On September 26th, National Public Lands Day, 5 years of negotiations and planning came to fruition when the 285-acre Zylstra Lake Preserve on San Juan Island officially opened part Continue Reading

WSU Extension Offers Online Horticulture Training
Written on October 26, 2020 at 5:00 am, by Hayley Day
By WSU Extension Learn to be a better home gardener and steward of the environment this winter with Washington State University San Juan County Extension’s new online Home Horticulture Training program. Training focuses on a wide range of horticulture topics taught online by WSU faculty, staff, Master Gardeners and other regional experts on Saturday mornings Continue Reading

Salmon Habitat Restored on Sucia Island
Written on October 2, 2020 at 5:50 am, by Hayley Day
Almost seven years ago, Friends of the San Juans began working with Washington State Parks on a salmon recovery project on Sucia Island. After a lot of research, surveys, designs, engineering, and permitting, the on-the-ground work to restore habitat has come to fruition. Located along a major migratory pathway for juvenile Chinook salmon, Sucia’s marine Continue Reading

Sunrise at Boundary Pass
Written on September 5, 2020 at 4:50 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
Thanks to John Miller for capturing this sunrise image… click to enlarge photo…

Trail Times: Old Military Road Trail – An Illustrated Guide
Written on September 4, 2020 at 12:21 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
Robin Donnelly for the Old Military Road Trail Committee… What a great time to be exploring our trails. Covid seems to have made us all more aware of the healing power of nature and our fortunate ability to be part of it. As summer is waning, fall colors are taking over for the vibrancy of Continue Reading

Applications Being Accepted for Grants to Conserve Forests
Written on August 31, 2020 at 1:11 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
OLYMPIA–On Sept.1, eligible organizations may begin applying for grants to conserve community forests, the Recreation and Conservation Office announced today. The new state Community Forests Program will offer grants of up to $3 million. But organizations need to hurry. Applications are due Oct. 1. The grants must be used to buy at least 5 acres Continue Reading

Islanders For The San Juan Islands National Monument Meet Via Zoom August 27
Written on August 25, 2020 at 7:00 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
Join the MAC Meeting on August 27, 9:00am -5:00pm, Pacific Time (see Zoom link below)… Click on photo to enlarge… The MAC (Monument Advisory Committee) will be hearing from subject matter experts and the public to inform their deliberations as they discuss and present their input to the BLM. The full meeting agenda (PDF) can Continue Reading

Rainbow Reflection in Friday Harbor
Written on August 22, 2020 at 2:35 pm, by Peggy Sue McRae
Many thanks to Liz Smith for this magical photo of Friday Harbor…